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Fife MP Concerned by Rising Child Poverty
May 12, 2009 3:00 PM
Local MP Willie Rennie has expressed his concern over Government statistics that show that the number of children living in poverty increased by 100,000 between 2007 and the end of 2008.
The figures, released last week by the Department of Work and Pensions, have provoked a storm of criticism from campaigners, with Ministers now admitting that it is unlikely that the Government will achieve its target of halving child poverty from 1999 levels by 2010.
Progress towards the eradication of poverty amongst pensioners has also stalled, with levels of pensioner poverty remaining at 2 million over the same period. The number of adults living below the poverty line rose by 200,000, although this increase was partially due to increases in the size of the working population.
Commenting Mr Rennie said:
"At a time when more and more people are struggling to manage their finances, this rise in the number of children living in poverty is a stark reminder of the human cost of the economic downturn.
"These figures clearly illustrate the inadequacy of the current system of means-tested benefits and tax credits. The Government must do more to ensure that families and vulnerable groups such as pensioners are offered all the support they need to weather this crisis."
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